Myself in Brussels - Otto Dix

A raw, expressionist watercolour by Otto Dix, depicting the artist in military uniform observing a woman in a doorway during his time in Brussels.

Otto Dix produced this work during his service in the First World War. The composition captures a moment of stark contrast between the artist and his surroundings. Dix depicts himself on the left, wearing a military uniform, his face rendered with a flushed, almost grotesque quality. He is shown smoking, a detail that adds to the weary atmosphere of the scene.

In the centre, a woman is positioned in a doorway, her back to the viewer. She is dressed in undergarments, creating a sense of voyeurism and detachment. The use of watercolour allows for a translucent, ethereal quality in the figure of the woman, which contrasts with the heavier, more grounded treatment of the soldier. The yellow light emanating from the doorway provides a sharp visual break, separating the two figures into distinct psychological spaces.

This piece reflects the artist's early engagement with the realities of war and the urban environments he encountered while stationed in Belgium. Dix avoids romanticising the subject matter, opting instead for a direct, unflinching observation of human behaviour. The line work is economical, relying on pencil outlines to define the forms before applying washes of colour. The overall effect is one of alienation, a recurring theme in the work of the New Objectivity movement that Dix would later help define. By presenting this scene without moralising, the artist invites the viewer to observe the tension between the soldier and the civilian figure. The work remains a clear example of how Dix utilised his wartime experiences to inform his artistic practice, focusing on the raw, often uncomfortable aspects of life during a period of immense social upheaval.